DOLPHIN FUN FACTS

There are 33 species of dolphins, the dolphin we see here is the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin, which is the same species that Flipper was and that you are probably accustomed to seeing in captivity.

The Bottlenose Dolphin can hold its breath for 20 minutes at a time, usually they breath 2 or 3 times a minute.

The Bottlenose Dolphin has the biggest brain to body size ratio then any other animal in the world. (next to humans)

Dolphins call each other by name. That’s right! Every dolphin has a signature whistle they call each other by. Dolphins communicate through a series of whistles and clicks. It is believed that they have a fairly complex language. On our tours we have an underwater microphone so you have a chance to listen to them.

Dolphins cannot sleep like we do. Unlike us, dolphins are conscious breathers, they have to think to breath. If a dolphin were to go to sleep like us, they would drown, and probably get hit by boats or attacked by predators. Dolphins have 2 sides of their brain, a conscious side and an unconscious side. When one side of the brain is awake the other side is resting. When the unconscious side is active, or the animal is sleeping, they have one eye open and are still awake enough to think to breath and watch for predators. When we see them sleeping, they will usually swim slowly at the surface. It is important that we know these behaviors so we can be extra cautious around them. This is the time when they are more vulnerable to boat strikes.

Female dolphins are called Cows, Males are called bulls, and young ones are called calves.

Dolphins do not have a sense of smell, but they do have a sense that we do not have. They have what is called echolocation. This is similar to sonar. They can detect objects, what they are made of, and the exact location of them. This is done through detecting the eco of a series of clicks.